Team Leaders

New Initiatives in 2009

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 9 February 2009

The annual SIGGRAPH conference is a tremendous experience, involving tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of conference volunteers.

To facilitate the operation of the conference, a number of Student Volunteers are appointed as Team Leaders (TL's). Team Leaders manage Student Volunteers at specific conference venues and coordinate volunteer duties with SIGGRAPH 2009 Committee members.

Team Leader applicants must meet all the regular criteria for becoming a Student Volunteer and have demonstrated outstanding abilities as a Student Volunteer in either SIGGRAPH 2007 or 2008.Team Leaders must be organized, enthusiastic, and dedicated to helping the conference run smoothly for its attendees. Team Leaders must also be effective in managing large groups of people and performing under pressure.

Pre-conference requirements will include SV application evaluation and SV peer mentoring. On-site, Team Leaders are expected to volunteer at least 60 hours during the conference, not including orientation. All Team Leaders must attend a full-day Team Leader orientation session on Saturday, 1 August 2009. They are also expected to be at the conference from Saturday, 1 August 2009 through Saturday, 8 August 2009.

New Team Leader Pre-Conference Responsibilities and Requirements

As of 2009, Team Leaders will become a more integral part of the Student Volunteer program. Team Leaders will aid in the evaluation of SV applications as well as mentor Student Volunteers before the conference takes place.

The Team Leader application deadline is two weeks prior to the Student Volunteer application deadline. The 2009 Team Leader application deadline is Monday, 9 February 2009. Team Leaders will be selected and notified by Monday, 16 February 2009 and are expected to attend a mandatory virtual meeting via Microsoft LiveMeeting to be scheduled for the last week of February 2009.

SV application evaluation by Team Leaders will require an average of 10 hours a week during the first two weeks of April 2009. Pre-conference Student Volunteer mentoring will require an average of 6 hours a week between June and August. Specific details and training concerning SV application evaluation and peer mentoring will be provided in by-monthly meetings with the Student Volunteer Committee via Microsoft LiveMeeting. These meetings will take place in the months of June to August 2009.

Team Leader Application Process

Team Leader applicants must first complete the standard SIGGRAPH Student Volunteers Application. Before they submit an application, Team Leader applicants will complete one additional section containing questions related to personal skills and experience, and are required to write one additional personal statement of no more than 300 words, as described in the application.

Team Leader Recognition

All Team Leaders receive eight nights of accommodation (Friday, 31 July 2009 - Saturday, 8 August 2009) at a conference hotel. A minimum of two team leaders of the same gender will share each hotel room. It may be necessary to place more than two per room, but every effort will be made to keep the number in each room to the minimum. Further information on housing will be provided upon an applicant's acceptance as a Team Leader.

Team Leaders will also receive additional conference materials beyond those offered to Student Volunteers.

All Team Leaders are responsible for their own travel to and from New Orleans, as well as their own meals during their time at the conference. Some limited Travel Assistance awards and meal vouchers are available, but they are not guaranteed.